Mackinac Island
By Jeannette Doud 847-3301

Prior to the meeting of the Mackinac Bridge Authority on Mackinac Island Friday, July 27, Island Mayor Margaret Doud (center) presented the authority with a resolution from the City Council recognizing the 50th anniversary of the bridge and noting its benefits to area communities. Authority board members accepting the resolution are (from left) Dan Musser, Patrick Gleason, Murray Wikol, Chairman Bill Gnodtke, Bob Struck, and Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle. Missing from photograph are authority Vice Chair Barbara Brown and Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney.

Sunday, August 19, was a perfect Mackinac day with heavenly blue skies and warm sunshine as friends gathered at the Little Stone Church to say farewell to Aileen Koehler, a beloved member of our community. Dr. Vincent Carroll read the beautiful eulogy that Aileen had written, depicting her life. She now rests in peace at the Island Cemetery next to her beloved husband, Dr. Larry Koehler. A reception followed the service at Selma's Cottage on Cadotte Avenue.

Sunday, August 19, was a frightening time for the many summer employees from Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica, as word spread on the television that Hurricane Dean was heading for their island. Photographs were shown of the results of the dreadful 145-mile winds that bashed Jamaica, causing damage and devastation to the area. We're thankful that no deaths were reported. Many of our friends from those areas call Mackinac home during the summer months.

Here on Mackinac, we've had lots of wind, but no rain. Tuesday, August 21, the Straits of Mackinac was a deep blue as whitecaps appeared, causing the water to be very choppy. It was truly a beautiful sight.

Mary Kate McGreevy celebrated her birthday August 27. Island friends send special greetings.

Returning from their home in Big Rapids are Marianne and Keith Haan, who come each spring and fall to help Bev and Bob Benjamin in their shops. Keith is a cousin of Bob, who takes great pleasure boat watching from the front veranda of the Benjamin residence on Lakeshore Drive. Keith was pleased to tell me that the first day he was on the Island, he saw three big ships passing through Round Island Passage that he had never seen before. We welcome our good friends back to Mackinac.

Happy birthday to Ed McGreevy August 26, and to his son, Ian, August 29.

Mandy, Paul, and Paul Martin Wandrie, accompanied by Mandy's father, Bob St. Onge, recently attended a family reunion in Midland for the Hamilton family. Everyone enjoyed a great time.

Dee and Dick Czapek of Grand Rapids are visiting the Grant Simmons family in St. Ignace and the Candy Smith family on Mackinac.

A very special Island resident, Frank Nephew, celebrated his birthday August 18, when he was guest of honor at a family dinner party at the Carriage House. Happy birthday, Frank, from Island friends.

Happy anniversary to Pete and Cindy Komblevitz August 26.

I just spoke to my good friend, Charlotte Schmitt, from her home in Burr Ridge, Illinois, and she was very excited to report that her daughter, Muffy Ernster, was awarded five blue ribbons at the Illinois State Fair for her hackney pony, Royal Canadian. Congratulations to Muffy from Island friends.

Happy anniversary to Richard and Doris LaPine August 27.

A great surprise recently was to receive a visit from our good friend, Tom Hurst, and his family from Arizona. Tom and his twin brother, Tim, worked for many summers at Grand Hotel, and Tom was married on Mackinac. In three years, Tom will retire from Northwest as a pilot. Great to see you again.

Miriam Welcher, a patient at the Mackinac Straits Long Term Care Facility in St. Ignace, celebrated her birthday August 28. Happy birthday from Island friends.

Our deepest sympathy to Pauline Cadotte Halberg and her son-in-law, Dave Sayles, of St. Ignace, who recently suffered the loss of their 36-year-old daughter and wife, Sonya Sayles. Island friends send best wishes.

Congratulations to Mary Patay, who received her Ph.D. in Physical Education from North Colorado University. Best wishes from Island friends.

Recently, Mark Chambers took reporters from The Weather Channel for a sail on his sailboat Windermere. They had a great time, and the resulting film footage was shown on The Weather Channel this week. If you would like to view the video about "Sailing on the Straits, Natural Beauty of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge," go on your computer to www.weatherchannel. com, click on television, then click on Road Crew, and you will see the clips about the Straits region.

We had a great visit Tuesday, August 21, from Tom Nordberg and his wife, Anita, from Torch Lake and Punta Gorda, Florida. Tom and his late brother, Carl, are the sons of the late Carl and Katie Nordberg, and they grew up on Mackinac when their father was the superintendent of the Mackinac Island State Park. It was wonderful to see Tom back on Mackinac.

Mary Lou Klevens of Wichita, Kansas, celebrated her birthday August 28. Hope to see you on Mackinac soon.

Alex Gillespie, son of Annette and Bob, recently accepted a position as music director for a Lutheran church in Middleton, Wisconsin, which is near Madison. He will be moving in two weeks from Florida to Wisconsin. Congratulations to Alex from family and friends.

Christy May will celebrate her birthday August 29. Enjoy your day.

Happy belated birthday to Nancy Marks August 8.

Saturday, August 18, Urvana Morse presented her husband, Jim, with a third baby son, Owen Benjamin, weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces. He was born at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. Owen is joined at home by his big brothers, Wyatt and Dominic. Congratulations from Island friends.

Friends were happy to meet Melissa Croghan of Connecticut, who attended Sunday service at Little Stone Church Sunday, August 19. For years, the Croghan family spent each summer at their lovely West Bluff cottage, where Melissa and her brother and sister enjoyed the Island.

Mary and Wesley Maurer of St. Ignace attended the memorial service for the late Aileen Koehler Sunday, August 19, at Little Stone Church.

Tyler Finkel left for Michigan State University, Lake Sweet returned to Albion College, and Emma Chambers left Friday for Ferris State University in Big Rapids.

Elaine Bila, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, is visiting her sister, Rosemary Kompsi, for a month.

Margaret McIntire and her daughter, Marti, flew to Cape Cod Tuesday, August 21, to visit Marti's son, Alex, who is working there. They will spend a week visiting all the sites.

Linda Price is recuperating nicely from her recent accident. She is staying at the "Big House," owned by the Gough family on Cadotte Avenue. Friends may stop by to wish her well.

My dear friend, dating back many years on Mackinac, Jean Hanson Coyne, recently visited Mackinac, staying at the Windermere Hotel. Jean is the granddaughter of the late Ray Davis, former owner of the Davis Store, which is now known as the Big Store.

Some folks, having read my article about the black crown night herons, stopped by the Windermere to catch a glimpse of our feathered friends. Even though it's summer, two of the many ducks that we feed throughout the cold winter months continue to come each day. Bird watching is fascinating.

Celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary on the Island, Saturday, August 18, were Dick and Sally Guzowski. Dick was once the industrial arts teacher, and Sally was the school cook, at Mackinac Island Public School. Congratulations to Dick and Sally.

Recent guests of Dan Seeley were his mother and his niece, Cheyanna, from Boyne City.

Visiting Mackinac Sunday, August 19, was former resident Jeremy Reese. Jeremy and his late mother, Sharon, spent 16 years on the Island. Sharon taught business classes at Mackinac Island Public School.

Congratulations to Kelly Corrigan. She was recently hired by Livonia Public Schools and will teach high school English and history. Kelly is the daughter of Mike and Kathy Corrigan of Mahoney Avenue on Mackinac and White Lake.